Little Known Black History Fact: Herb Douglas

Ninety-year old former athlete, Herb Douglas, is the oldest living African-American olympic medalist. Douglas was part of the 1948 London Olympic Games during the Truman Administration.

As a student. Douglas took on major triumphs at the high school level. A city champ in tumbling, sprinting and basketball, he found a major voice in track and field. In 1940, Douglas set a school broad jump record that stood strong for 33 years.

Prior to Douglas’ Olympic appearance he helped Xavier University, an HBCU, win at the Penn Relays in 1942, a first for any HBCU. He qualified for the London Games, which were at the end of World War II. After clearing 24’ 9” in the long jump, then 26 year-old Douglas took the bronze medal back to the United States.